Question 1

What is Newton's law of universal gravitation?

Accepted Answer

Newton's law of universal gravitation states that every particle in the universe attracts every other particle with a force proportional to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. The formula is F = G × m₁ × m₂ / r², where G is the gravitational constant.

Question 2

How do you calculate gravitational force between two objects?

Accepted Answer

To calculate gravitational force: 1) Identify the masses of both objects (m₁ and m₂). 2) Measure the distance between their centers (r). 3) Apply the formula F = G × m₁ × m₂ / r². 4) Use G = 6.674 × 10⁻¹¹ m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻² as the gravitational constant. The result will be in Newtons.

Question 3

What is the gravitational constant G?

Accepted Answer

The gravitational constant G is a fundamental physical constant with the value 6.67430 × 10⁻¹¹ m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻². It represents the strength of gravitational attraction between masses and was first measured by Henry Cavendish in 1798. This constant is the same throughout the universe.

Question 4

Why is gravitational force so weak compared to other forces?

Accepted Answer

Gravitational force is the weakest of the four fundamental forces because the gravitational constant G is extremely small. However, gravity becomes significant for very large masses (like planets and stars) and acts over infinite distances without being blocked by matter, making it the dominant force on cosmic scales.

Question 5

How does distance affect gravitational force?

Accepted Answer

Gravitational force follows an inverse square law with distance. This means if you double the distance between two objects, the gravitational force becomes 1/4 as strong. If you triple the distance, the force becomes 1/9 as strong. This relationship explains why gravity weakens rapidly with distance.

Question 6

Can gravitational force be negative or repulsive?

Accepted Answer

No, gravitational force is always attractive and positive in Newton's theory. Unlike electric charges that can repel, masses always attract each other. However, in Einstein's general relativity, certain exotic forms of matter with negative energy density could theoretically create repulsive gravity.

Question 7

What are some real-world applications of gravitational force calculations?

Accepted Answer

Gravitational force calculations are essential for: satellite orbit design, space mission trajectory planning, tidal force predictions, planetary motion analysis, binary star system studies, and understanding galaxy formation. They're also used in geophysics for oil and mineral exploration through gravitational anomaly detection.

Question 8

How accurate is Newton's law of universal gravitation?

Accepted Answer

Newton's law is extremely accurate for most practical purposes and everyday calculations. However, it breaks down in extreme conditions like very strong gravitational fields (near black holes) or at very high speeds. In these cases, Einstein's general relativity provides more accurate predictions.

Question 9

What units are used for gravitational force calculations?

Accepted Answer

The standard SI units are: masses in kilograms (kg), distance in meters (m), and the resulting force in Newtons (N). The gravitational constant G has units of m³ kg⁻¹ s⁻². For astronomical calculations, you might use solar masses, Earth masses, and astronomical units (AU).

Question 10

How does gravitational force relate to weight?

Accepted Answer

Weight is the gravitational force between an object and a planet (usually Earth). Your weight equals your mass times the local gravitational acceleration (W = mg). On Earth's surface, g ≈ 9.81 m/s², but this varies slightly with location due to Earth's rotation and non-uniform density.

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